12:39, 02 февраля 2023, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Tatyana KUDRYAVTSEVA
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Naryn Production Enterprise LLC signed an agreement to finance the construction and operation of Kulanak hydroelectric power plant (HPP). Press service of the bank reported.
The document was signed by the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the EDB Ruslan Dalenov and the Director of Naryn Production Enterprise LLC Kutubai Murzabaev. The capacity of the Kulanak HPP will be 100 megawatts with an average annual electricity generation of 435 million kilowatt-hours. It will be built on Naryn river near Kulanak village, Naryn region, on a territory with a total area of 485.41 hectares.
The bank believes that the launch of this hydroelectric power plant will strengthen the position of Kyrgyzstan in the electricity market in Central Asia, including reducing the energy shortage in the region, where there is only one hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 40 megawatts, as well as increase the level of energy security of the country.
At least 835 new jobs will be created for the period of construction and operation of the facility.
Thanks to the funds from the EDB Technical Assistance Fund, the project has been verified as green in accordance with the international lending principles of the Loan Market Association. At the same time, its implementation will prevent the emission of 346,400 tons of greenhouse gases per year.
«Kulanak HPP is not just a major project within the framework of the implementation of the EDB Country Strategy in Kyrgyzstan. This is one of the important parts of the EDB Water-Energy Complex of Central Asia mega-project. Commissioning of new 100 megawatts of generation in Kyrgyzstan will reduce the power shortage in the country’s energy system. This will also have a positive impact on the ability to regulate the daily load schedule associated with the operation of solar stations and wind generation, the large-scale commissioning of which is planned in all countries of Central Asia,» said Ruslan Dalenov, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Board.
The commissioning of the new hydroelectric power plant will increase the area of irrigated agricultural land in the region 1.5 times — up to 6,769 hectares.
The cost of the project is $117.9 million. The participation of the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund is also planned to finance the construction and operation of the Kulanak HPP. EDB and RKDF are planning to finance the project on a parity basis.